This week's guest on the WLS podcast is Lexi Crouch. Lexi candidly talks with Jacqui about her history of disordered eating, how it started, and what steps she took to heal and thrive. Lexi is an inspiring example of persisting until she found the right combination of support for her. Her story could be the one that helps pave the way for others feeling stuck. 

This week's guest on the WLS podcast is Lexi Crouch. Lexi candidly talks with Jacqui about her history of disordered eating, how it started, and what steps she took&nbsp;to heal and thrive. Lexi is an inspiring example of persisting until she found the right combination of support for her. Her story could be the one that helps pave the way for others feeling stuck.&nbsp;

On the Australian Weight Loss Surgery Podcast, we share tips, insights and recommendations from leading Bariatric specialists to help you achieve and maintain your weight loss goals and live a life of health and vitality.


Qualified Nutritionist Jacqui Lewis and her guests dive into aspects of diet, fitness, wellbeing, mindset and lifestyle that come together to achieve great results on your Weight Loss Surgery journey.

On the Australian Weight Loss Surgery Podcast, we share tips, insights and recommendations from leading Bariatric specialists to help you achieve and maintain your weight loss goals and live a life of health and vitality.
 Qualified Nutritionist Jacqui Lewis and her guests dive into aspects of diet, fitness, wellbeing, mindset and lifestyle that come together to achieve great results on your Weight Loss Surgery journey.

Australian Weight Loss Surgery Podcast

On the Australian Weight Loss Surgery Podcast we share tips, insights and recommendations from leading bariatric specialists, to help you achieve and maintain your weight loss goals and live a life of health and vitality.


Nutritionist Jacqui Lewis and her guests dive into aspects of diet, fitness, wellbeing, mindset and lifestyle that come together to achieve great results on your weight loss surgery journey.

On the Australian Weight Loss Surgery Podcast we share tips, insights and recommendations from leading bariatric specialists, to help you achieve and maintain your weight loss goals and live a life of health and vitality.
 Nutritionist Jacqui Lewis and her guests dive into aspects of diet, fitness, wellbeing, mindset and lifestyle that come together to achieve great results on your weight loss surgery journey.

From Disorder to Healing Lexi's story

You take your vitamins religiously for the first year after surgery, your labs look fine, so you stop. What could go wrong?

Kate Fuss, Physician Assistant-Certified and founder of Banana Bariatrics, has watched patients arrive at clinics unable to walk straight down the hallway, their teeth cracking, skin deteriorating—all because they believed vitamins were temporary. 

In this episode, she reveals why your "normal" lab results might be hiding serious deficiencies, what irreversible brain damage from thiamine deficiency actually looks like, and why your body will break down your bones before letting your calcium levels drop. She also shares myths that leave patients vulnerable years after surgery. Kate explains why eating healthy will never be enough, how to spot vitamin deficiencies before they become emergencies, and why one patient's hair loss was actually the least of her problems. 

If you've ever thought "my calcium is always normal" means you could skip supplements, or wondered why you're exhausted despite eating well, this episode could prevent serious complications.

$1 for a week trial membership

Episode Highlights:
Why "normal" lab ranges don't tell the whole story for bariatric patients
The two-week thiamine window that separates prevention from brain damage
How your body sacrifices bone health to maintain blood calcium levels
Warning signs of vitamin deficiency that mimic other conditions
Why malabsorptive procedures require different supplementation than gastric sleeve
The real cost of skipping vitamins: from hospital admissions to irreversible damage

About Our Guest:

Kate Fuss, PA-C is a Surgical Residency trained Physician Assistant from Yale / Norwalk hospitals in Connecticut. She obtained her Masters of Medical Science at Wake Forest School of Medicine in NC.

Kate has over 12 years of clinical and operative experience in Bariatrics, General, and Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. She additional obtained a Board Certification as a Specialist in Obesity and Weight Management.

Her passion lies in serving weight loss surgery patients throughout their entire operative journey. She carries a special interest in serving those struggling with post-operative weight regain and believes in a whole foods nutritional approach for overall health and wellness.

When Kate has extra time on her hands, she enjoys pouring it inside Banana, being present with her two daughters and husband, and traveling the world with her family to experience new cultures and cuisines.

 

Connect with Kate Fuss
Website | bananabariatrics.com
Instagram | @banana.bariatrics
Facebook | www.facebook.com/groups/bariatricweightlosssurgery

Providers | bananabariatrics.com/private-practice/

You take your vitamins religiously for the first year after surgery, your labs look fine, so you stop. What could go wrong?
Kate Fuss, Physician Assistant-Certified and founder of Banana Bariatrics, has watched patients arrive at clinics unable to walk straight down the hallway, their teeth cracking, skin deteriorating&mdash;all because they believed vitamins were temporary.&nbsp;
In this episode, she reveals why your "normal" lab results might be hiding serious deficiencies, what irreversible brain damage from thiamine deficiency actually looks like, and why your body will break down your bones before letting your calcium levels drop. She also shares myths that leave patients vulnerable years after surgery. Kate explains why eating healthy will never be enough, how to spot vitamin deficiencies before they become emergencies, and why one patient's hair loss was actually the least of her problems.&nbsp;
If you've ever thought "my calcium is always normal" means you could skip supplements, or wondered why you're exhausted despite eating well, this episode could prevent serious complications.
<a href="https://bananabariatrics.com/">$1 for a week trial membership</a>
Episode Highlights:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Why "normal" lab ranges don't tell the whole story for bariatric patients</li>
<li aria-level="1">The two-week thiamine window that separates prevention from brain damage</li>
<li aria-level="1">How your body sacrifices bone health to maintain blood calcium levels</li>
<li aria-level="1">Warning signs of vitamin deficiency that mimic other conditions</li>
<li aria-level="1">Why malabsorptive procedures require different supplementation than gastric sleeve</li>
<li aria-level="1">The real cost of skipping vitamins: from hospital admissions to irreversible damage</li>
</ul>
About Our Guest:
Kate Fuss, PA-C is a Surgical Residency trained Physician Assistant from Yale / Norwalk hospitals in Connecticut. She obtained her Masters of Medical Science at Wake Forest School of Medicine in NC.
Kate has over 12 years of clinical and operative experience in Bariatrics, General, and Plastic &amp; Reconstructive Surgery. She additional obtained a Board Certification as a Specialist in Obesity and Weight Management.
Her passion lies in serving weight loss surgery patients throughout their entire operative journey. She carries a special interest in serving those struggling with post-operative weight regain and believes in a whole foods nutritional approach for overall health and wellness.
When Kate has extra time on her hands, she enjoys pouring it inside Banana, being present with her two daughters and husband, and traveling the world with her family to experience new cultures and cuisines.
&nbsp;
Connect with Kate Fuss
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Website | <a href="https://bananabariatrics.com/">bananabariatrics.com</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Instagram | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/banana.bariatrics/?hl=en">@banana.bariatrics</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Facebook | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/bariatricweightlosssurgery">www.facebook.com/groups/bariatricweightlosssurgery</a></li>
</ul>
Providers | <a href="http://bananabariatrics.com/private-practice/">bananabariatrics.com/private-practice/</a>

Why Bariatric Vitamins Are Non-Negotiable: A Lifelong Commitment to Your Health with Kate Fuss

What if the pain, heavy bleeding, and chaos you've accepted as "normal" isn't normal at all?

Naturopath and author Lara Briden reveals why your menstrual cycle is the most underrated health report card you'll ever get—and what it's actually telling you about insulin resistance, inflammation, and metabolic health. We explore why hormonal birth control isn't regulating your period (it's suppressing it), how dairy might be the key to lighter, pain-free cycles, and why perimenopause doesn't have to be the health crisis it's become.

Lara walks us through the hidden metabolic consequences of decades on the pill, the real drivers behind PCOS and endometriosis, and practical strategies that actually work—from antihistamines to magnesium to simply quitting alcohol during perimenopause. 

If you've been told your symptoms are "just hormones" or that you need to live with the pain, this conversation offers a different path forward.

 

Lara Briden's Books
Period Repair Manual: Natural Treatment for Better Hormones and Better Periods
Hormone Repair Manual: Every Woman's Guide to Healthy Hormones After 40
The Metabolism Reset
VIDEO: The Hidden Story of Endometriosis: Pain, Lesions, and the Microbiome

Episode Highlights:
Why pill bleeds aren't real periods—and what that means for long-term health
How to tell if you're actually ovulating and why it matters beyond fertility
The link between dairy, histamine, and heavy, painful periods
What normal menstrual flow actually looks like—and when to seek help
Why hormonal birth control may be undermining metabolic health
Practical strategies for navigating perimenopause without losing your mind

About Our Guest:

Lara Briden is a naturopathic doctor and the bestselling author of Period Repair Manual, Hormone Repair Manual, and The Metabolism Reset. She has consulting rooms in Christchurch, New Zealand, where she treats women with PCOS, PMS, endometriosis, perimenopause, and many other hormone- and period-related health problems. 

 

Connect with Lara Briden
Website | www.larabriden.com
Facebook | www.facebook.com/LaraBriden
X | @LaraBriden
Instagram | @larabriden
YouTube | www.youtube.com/larabriden
TikTok | @larabriden

What if the pain, heavy bleeding, and chaos you've accepted as "normal" isn't normal at all?
Naturopath and author Lara Briden reveals why your menstrual cycle is the most underrated health report card you'll ever get&mdash;and what it's actually telling you about insulin resistance, inflammation, and metabolic health. We explore why hormonal birth control isn't regulating your period (it's suppressing it), how dairy might be the key to lighter, pain-free cycles, and why perimenopause doesn't have to be the health crisis it's become.
Lara walks us through the hidden metabolic consequences of decades on the pill, the real drivers behind PCOS and endometriosis, and practical strategies that actually work&mdash;from antihistamines to magnesium to simply quitting alcohol during perimenopause.&nbsp;
If you've been told your symptoms are "just hormones" or that you need to live with the pain, this conversation offers a different path forward.
&nbsp;
Lara Briden's Books
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Period-Repair-Manual-Treatment-Hormones/dp/1975926773">Period Repair Manual: Natural Treatment for Better Hormones and Better Periods</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hormone-Repair-Manual-Healthy-Hormones/dp/0648352447">Hormone Repair Manual: Every Woman's Guide to Healthy Hormones After 40</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Metabolism-Reset-Lara-Briden-ebook/dp/B0CW1LJWFX">The Metabolism Reset</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">VIDEO:<a href="https://www.larabriden.com/the-hidden-story-of-endometriosis-pain-lesions-and-the-microbiome/"> The Hidden Story of Endometriosis: Pain, Lesions, and the Microbiome</a></li>
</ul>
Episode Highlights:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Why pill bleeds aren't real periods&mdash;and what that means for long-term health</li>
<li aria-level="1">How to tell if you're actually ovulating and why it matters beyond fertility</li>
<li aria-level="1">The link between dairy, histamine, and heavy, painful periods</li>
<li aria-level="1">What normal menstrual flow actually looks like&mdash;and when to seek help</li>
<li aria-level="1">Why hormonal birth control may be undermining metabolic health</li>
<li aria-level="1">Practical strategies for navigating perimenopause without losing your mind</li>
</ul>
About Our Guest:
Lara Briden is a naturopathic doctor and the bestselling author of Period Repair Manual, Hormone Repair Manual, and The Metabolism Reset. She has consulting rooms in Christchurch, New Zealand, where she treats women with PCOS, PMS, endometriosis, perimenopause, and many other hormone- and period-related health problems.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Connect with Lara Briden
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Website | <a href="https://www.larabriden.com/">www.larabriden.com</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Facebook | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LaraBriden/">www.facebook.com/LaraBriden</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">X | <a href="https://twitter.com/LaraBriden">@LaraBriden</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Instagram | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/larabriden/">@larabriden</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">YouTube | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/larabriden">www.youtube.com/larabriden</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">TikTok |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/larabriden">@larabriden</a></li>
</ul>

Your Period Is Trying to Tell You Something with Lara Briden

What if the biggest obstacle after weight loss surgery isn't the stalls, the food aversions, or even the physical recovery—but the voice in your head?

Alex Lauren takes us five months into her bariatric journey, beyond the highlight reel most people share online. She unpacks the hypercritical inner dialogue that emerged during her first stall, the unexpected ways her autoimmune condition shaped her approach to food and movement, and why preparation for surgery started eight months before she ever stepped into the operating room.

This isn't another "I lost X kilos" story. Alex reveals how she used GLP-1 medication strategically before surgery, rebuilt her relationship with food through therapy and journaling, and learned to decenter weight loss when chronic pain demanded it. We explore the comparison trap that dominates bariatric communities, why vulnerability became her most powerful tool, and how showing up authentically online created connections she never knew she needed.

If you've ever wondered what really happens when the scales don't move as expected, or how to navigate bariatric life when your body has its own rules, this conversation matters.

Episode Highlights:
Why the first weight loss stall hits harder psychologically than physically
How intentional pre-surgery preparation shaped seamless post-op life
Using bariatric surgery as a reset to identify autoimmune food triggers
The hidden cost of comparison in Facebook groups and online communities
Why expressing emotions replaced emotional eating
Balancing chronic pain management with weight loss goals

About Our Guest:

Alexandra has just hit five months post-op following weight-loss surgery and shares her journey online with a strong focus on honesty, sustainability, and mindset. She lives with ankylosing spondylitis, an autoimmune condition, so her experience includes navigating surgery alongside chronic pain, inflammation, and medication, something that’s shaped her approach to both food and movement. Online, she creates engaging, no-shame content that focuses on building a healthy relationship with food, dismantling diet culture, and showing what real life after surgery actually looks like, not just the highlights.  

If you need something shorter:  Alexandra is five months post-op and shares her weight-loss surgery journey online with an honest, no-shame approach. Living with ankylosing spondylitis, she speaks to the realities of balancing surgery, chronic illness, and mindset, while showing what real life after surgery looks like beyond the highlights

 

Connect with Alex
Instagram: @keepingupwithalexlauren
TikTok: @keepingupwithalexlauren

What if the biggest obstacle after weight loss surgery isn't the stalls, the food aversions, or even the physical recovery&mdash;but the voice in your head?
Alex Lauren takes us five months into her bariatric journey, beyond the highlight reel most people share online. She unpacks the hypercritical inner dialogue that emerged during her first stall, the unexpected ways her autoimmune condition shaped her approach to food and movement, and why preparation for surgery started eight months before she ever stepped into the operating room.
This isn't another "I lost X kilos" story. Alex reveals how she used GLP-1 medication strategically before surgery, rebuilt her relationship with food through therapy and journaling, and learned to decenter weight loss when chronic pain demanded it. We explore the comparison trap that dominates bariatric communities, why vulnerability became her most powerful tool, and how showing up authentically online created connections she never knew she needed.
If you've ever wondered what really happens when the scales don't move as expected, or how to navigate bariatric life when your body has its own rules, this conversation matters.
Episode Highlights:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Why the first weight loss stall hits harder psychologically than physically</li>
<li aria-level="1">How intentional pre-surgery preparation shaped seamless post-op life</li>
<li aria-level="1">Using bariatric surgery as a reset to identify autoimmune food triggers</li>
<li aria-level="1">The hidden cost of comparison in Facebook groups and online communities</li>
<li aria-level="1">Why expressing emotions replaced emotional eating</li>
<li aria-level="1">Balancing chronic pain management with weight loss goals</li>
</ul>
About Our Guest:
Alexandra has just hit five months post-op following weight-loss surgery and shares her journey online with a strong focus on honesty, sustainability, and mindset. She lives with ankylosing spondylitis, an autoimmune condition, so her experience includes navigating surgery alongside chronic pain, inflammation, and medication, something that&rsquo;s shaped her approach to both food and movement. Online, she creates engaging, no-shame content that focuses on building a healthy relationship with food, dismantling diet culture, and showing what real life after surgery actually looks like, not just the highlights.&nbsp;&nbsp;
If you need something shorter:&nbsp; Alexandra is five months post-op and shares her weight-loss surgery journey online with an honest, no-shame approach. Living with ankylosing spondylitis, she speaks to the realities of balancing surgery, chronic illness, and mindset, while showing what real life after surgery looks like beyond the highlights
&nbsp;
Connect with Alex
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/keepingupwithalexlauren">@keepingupwithalexlauren</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@keepingupwithalexlauren">@keepingupwithalexlauren</a></li>
</ul>

From Disorder to Healing Lexi's story

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Australian Weight Loss Surgery Podcast

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